Reheating furnace



March 9, 1943. H. R. SCHU TZ REHEATING FURNACE Filed March 30, 1940 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 ERR-5,071 111 INVENTOR Ill 1 I I ATTORN s March 9, 1943. H. R. SCHUTZ 2,313,698-

REHEATING FURNACE Filed March 30; 1940 2 She ets-Sheet 2 II I,

Ill,

INVENTOR ATTORNE Patented Mar. 9, 1943 REHEATING FURNACE Harold R. Schutz, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Libbey Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Application March 30, 1940, Serial No. 326,939

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for use in the manufacture of footed stemware such for example as glass tumblers, goblets, etc., and more particularly is concerned with the provision of novel and efficient means for softenin the foot portions preparatory to final shaping thereof.

In the manufacture of footed Stemware, the foot portions ordinarily are formed by a pressing operation which imparts a distinct concavo-convex form to the foot, the latter then being attached to the bowl or a stem and transported through an oven for the purpose of rendering the glass more or less plastic and therefore capable of being reshaped. Such reshaping may be obtained by mechanism of the character disclosed in U. S. Patent #2,307,425, issued January 5, 1943, entitled Method of and apparatus for.

manufacturing glassware.

An object of the present invention is the provision of means whereby the entire foot portion may be uniformly softened, such means providing for heating of the glass by radiation and direct application of a flame.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a reheating furnace or oven in which the combustion chamber is of such dimensions and proportions and cross sectional shape as to facilitate uniform heating of the foot portions as they travel in succession through the chamber.

Another object is the provision of an elongated reheating oven having a downwardly opening longitudinal slot through which the stem portion of the ware moves during reheating of the foot portion, said slot having the walls thereof artificially cooled as a precautionary measure against sticking of the glass to said Walls in the event of collapse of the stem and/or foot portions.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a reheating oven of the character described including a water cooled jacket for the lower side thereof and for the side wall that is positioned in proximity to the apparatus by means of which the articles are transported through said oven.

It is likewise an object of my invention to provide means for controlling the pressure within the reheating oven in such fashion as to minimize the "sting-out or flame, which frequently is projected downwardly through the longitudinal slot in the oven. To this end I have provided a spaced from the fuel inlet ports or burners.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter;

In the drawings:

Fig.1 is a top plan view of the reheating oven.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the oven.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along theline 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

The preferred embodiment of my invention assumes the form of an arcuate open-ended combustion chamber I0 comprising a cover I l or roof, a pair of depending longitudinal side walls l2 and a bottom wall l3. The chamber is open at its opposite ends and the lower side thereof opens to the atmosphere through a longitudinal slot [4 which is provided in the bottom wall I3. A longitudinal series of burner ports I5 (Figs. 4 and 5) are formed in one side wall l2 and accommodate fuel injectors l6 which may, be arranged in groups and connected to manifolds l1. Through these ports [5 a highly combustible fuel mixture is introduced into the chamber. Exhaust ports I8 are provided in the cover II in proximity to the wall l2 opposite the burner ports for the purpose of controlling the pressure in said chamber and preventing the formation of a sting-out projecting through the slot M.

The assembled refractory blocks comprising the arcuate chamber are supported by a metalframework [9. Awater jacket 20 through which cool water is circulated continuously is arranged in contact with the exterior of the bottom wall [3. A water cooled jacket 2| is positioned in proximity to the wall I2 which during operation is located adjacent to the machine (not shown) which transports tumblers T through said chamher. This latter water jacket is intended to protect said tumbler carrying machine against the intense heat which is radiated by the walls of the chamber I0.

I have discovered that successful operation of this foot reheating chamber is very largely, if not entirely, dependent upon proper design of the combustion chamber itself. To this end the upper wall 22 is crowned or arched slightly in a direction transverse to the length thereof and the inner side wall 23 opposite the burner ports is declined inwardly and downwardly at an angle of approximately to the horizontal. The lower end of this side wall merges into the lower end of an inclined bottom wall 24, the inclination of which is approximately at an angle of to the horizontal. As will be observed in Fig. 5, this wall is inclined toward the adjacent side of the slot I4. Such contour of the wall surfaces of the combustion chamber together with a slight inclination of the fuel injectors It, has resulted in exceptionally complete and uniform heating and softening of the foot portion of the tumbler and may be attributed largely to effective radiation of heat from the crown to the inner surface of the foot portion and more or less direct application of the flame itself to the exterior surfaces thereof. It is understood that the foot? ed tumblers are rotating continuously about their individual vertical axes and as a result, expose the entire exterior surface to the direct influence of the burning products of combustion.

From time to time the intense heat will cause collapse of the stem portions of the tumblers and consequent contact between the glass and side walls of the slot l4. Ordinarily this results in sticking of the glass to these walls and necessi-' tates stopping the machine and very often causes a considerable interruption in normal operation. To avoid this, I have provided means for artificially cooling these side walls and keeping them at such a temperature that the molten glass cannot adhere to them. To this end I have mounted a water cooled pipe on each longitudinal wall of the slot M, each pipe being connected to a source of supply of cooling water which is circulated continuously through these i In operation it is understood that the tumbler while in an inverted position and preferably carried by a machine of the type shown in my copending application above identified, are moved in such fashion that the foot portions thereof travel through the heating chamber [0 wherein they are sufiiciently softened to assume a substantially pancake form solely due to the influence of gravity. Thereafter as is disclosed in the above identified application, these foot portions are mechanically reshaped to the final form desired.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising an arcuate combustion chamber having a coextensive longitudinal arcuate slot in its lower side to admit in inverted position the foot and stemportions of an article of glassware, means for artificially cooling the opposed walls of said slot, said chamber having a longitudinal series of upwardly opening exhaust ports spaced along one margin of the upper wall of the chamber, and means spaced along the opposite margin of said upper wall and below the latter for directing a combustible fuel mixture into and transverse to the width of said chamber; 7

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising an arcuate combustion chamber having a coextensive longitudinal arcuate slot in its lower side to admit in inverted position the foot and stem portions of an article of glassware, means for artificially cooling the opposed walls of said slot, said chamber having a longitudinal series of upwardly opening exhaust ports spaced along one margin of the upper wall of the chamber, means spaced along the opposite margin of said upper wall and below the latter for directing a combustible fuel mixture into and transverse to the width of said chamber, and a water cooled jacket positioned adjacent the exterior of the chamber at the side opposite the fuel directing means.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising a horizontal elongated combustion chamber, said chamber including a pair of side walls and top and bottom walls, said top wall interconnecting said side walls, said bottom wall having a longitudinal slot therein opening through the ends of said chamber, means for artificially cooling the opposed walls of the slot, said top wall having a longitudinal series of exhaust ports therein, and means for introducing a combustible fuel mixture into the chamber.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a horizontal elongated combustion chamber, said chamber including a pair of side walls and top and bottom walls, said top wall interconnecting said side walls, said bottom wall having a. longitudinal slot therein opening through the ends of said chamber, means for artificially cooling the opposed walls of the slot, said top wall having a longitudinal series of exhaust ports therein, and a longitudinal series of burners arranged along one of said side walls for introducing a combustible fuel mixture into the chamber.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a horizontal elongated combustion chamber, said chamber including a pair of side walls and top and bottom walls, said top wall interconnecting said side walls, said bottom wall having a longitudinal slot therein opening through the ends of said chamber, means for artificially cooling the opposed walls of the slot, said top wall having a longitudinal series of exhaust ports therein, and a longitudinalseries of burners arranged along one of said side walls for introducing a combustible fuel mixture into the chamber, said exhaust ports being positioned along the margin Of the top wall remotely spaced from the burners.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a horizontal elongated combustion chamber, said chamber including a pair of side walls and top and bottom walls, said top wall interconnecting said side walls, said bottom wall having a longitudinal slot therein opening through the ends of said chamber, means for artificially cooling the opposed walls of the slot, said top wall having a longitudinal series of exhaust ports therein, means for introducing a, combustible fuel mixture into the chamber, and a water cooled jacket positioned adjacent the exterior of the chamber at the side opposite said burners.

'7. Apparatus of the character described comprising a horizontal elongated combustion chamber, said chamber including a pair of side walls and top and bottom walls, said top wall interconnecting said side walls, said bottom wall having a longitudinal slot therein, means along one side wall for introducing fuel into the chamber, the top wall of said chamber being slightly arched in cross section, the side wall opposite the fuel introducing means sloping inwardly and downwardly and that part of the bottom wall-adjoining the sloping wall being inclined toward the adjacent wall of the slot, and means for artificially cooling the opposed walls of said slot.

8. Apparatus of the characterdescribed comprising an elongated open-ended horizontal chamber, said chamber including side and bottom walls and a cover, and having a longitudinal slot in said bottom wall coextensive with the length of the chamber, one side wall of the chamber having a longitudinal series of burner ports,

therein, the interior of the other side wall being declined inwardly, the bottom of the chamber in proximity to said other side being declined toward the latter and merging into the lower end of said other Wall, the cover of said chamber having a longitudinal series of exhaust ports directly above said declined surfaces, means for introducing a combustible fuel through said burner ports, and means for artificially cooling the walls of said slot.

9. Apparatus of the character described comprising an elongated open-ended horizontal chamber, said chamber including side and bottom walls and a cover, and having a longitudinal slot in said bottom wall coextensive with the length of the chamber, one side wall of the chamber having a longitudinal series of burner ports therein, the interior of the other side wall being declined inwardly, the bottom of the chamber in proximity to said other side being declined toward the latter and merging into the lower end of said other wall, the cover of said chamber having a longitudinal series of exhaust ports directly above said declined surfaces, means for introducing a combustible fuel through said burner ports, conduits arranged alongside of the walls of said slot and means for continuously circulating a cooling medium through said pipes.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising an elongated open-ended horizontal chamber, said chamber including side and bottom walls and a cover, and having a longitudinal slot in said bottom wall coextensive with the length of the chamber, one side wall of the chamber having a longitudinal series of burner ports therein, the interior of the other side wall being declined inwardly, the bottom of the chamber in proximity to said other side being declined toward the latter and merging into the lower end of said other wall, the cover of said chamber having a longitudinal series of exhaust ports directly above said declined surfaces, means for introducing a combustible fuel through said burner ports, a water cooled jacket in contact with the exterior of the bottom wall, and a water cooled jacket for that side wall opposite the burner ports.

11. Apparatus of the character described comprising an elongated open-ended horizontal chamber, said chamber including side and bottom walls and a cover, and having a longitudinal slot in said bottom wall coextensive with the length of the chamber, one side wall of the chamber having a longitudinal series of burner ports therein, the interior of the other side wall being declined inwardly, the bottom of the chamber in proximity to said other side being declined toward the latter and merging into the lower end of said other wall, the cover of said chamber having a longitudinal series of exhaust ports directly above said declined surfaces, means for introducing a combustible fuel through said burner ports, a water cooled jacket in contact with the exterior of the bottom Wall, a water cooled jacket for that side wall opposite the burner ports, and means for artificially cooling the walls of said slot.

12. Apparatus of the character described comprising an elongated open-ended horizontal chamber, said chamber including side and bottom walls and a cover, and having a longitudinal slot in said bottom wall coextensive with the length of the chamber, one side wall of the chamber having a longitudinal series of burner ports therein, the interior of the other side wall being declined inwardly, the bottom of the chambe in proximity to said other side being declined toward the latter and merging into the lower end of said other wall, the cover of said chamber having a longitudinal series of exhaust ports directly above said declined surfaces, means for introducing a combustible fuel through said burner ports, a water cooled jacket in contact with the exterior of the bottom wall, a water cooled jacket for that side wall opposite the burner ports, and water cooled pipes arranged alongside of the walls of the slot.

13. Apparatus of the character described comprising an arcuate combustion chamber having a coextensive longitudinal arcuate slot in its lower side to admit in inverted position'the foot and stem portions of an article of glassware, means for artificially cooling the opposed walls of said slot, said chamber having a longitudinal series of upwardly opening exhaust ports spaced along one margin of the upper wall of the chamber, means spaced along the opposite margin of said upper wall and below the latter for directing a, combustible fuel mixture into and transverse to the width of said chamber, and means for artificially cooling the exterior of the chamber at the side opposite the fuel directing means.

HAROLD R. scHUTz. 

